Major Earthquake Venezuela: Two powerful earthquakes one after the other have caused huge devastation in Venezuela. American scientists have predicted the death of 10,000 to 1 lakh people.
Washington DC: Two powerful earthquakes one after the other have caused massive devastation in Venezuela on Wednesday. After this major disaster, US President Donald Trump has offered immediate help to Venezuela. At the same time, US government scientists have warned that the death toll could range from 10,000 to 1 lakh.
Two devastating earthquakes in Venezuela
Trump said in a post on Truth Social, “The two massive earthquakes that have struck the great people of Venezuela have been devastating and have resulted in massive deaths. The United States is ready, willing, and able to help! I have directed all agencies of our Government to be ready to act swiftly. We will be there for our new and great friends. The early reports are not good!!!”
The warning comes as Venezuelan officials have provided little information on casualties more than five hours after the earthquake. Acting President Delsey Rodriguez confirmed the deaths in a televised address but gave no official figures. Government media have also provided limited information on the scale of the devastation.
How are 1 lakh people expected to die in Venezuela?
According to Al Jazeera, the US Geological Survey (USGS) used its PAGER (Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquake Response) system to estimate the death toll between 10,000 and 1 lakh people immediately after the disaster.
Vashan Wright, a geophysicist at the University of California, San Diego, told Al Jazeera that the PAGER system estimates the potential impact by rapidly analyzing a number of factors such as an earthquake’s intensity, depth, location, population density, historical earthquake data and the structure of buildings.
Trump extends helping hand amid Venezuela devastation
- “Basically, the system takes all the known information about earthquake intensity, depth, location, population density, past earthquakes, and buildings… and then estimates what to expect,” Wright said. He also said that in many cases, PAGER’s estimates are “pretty close” to the actual data.
- Meanwhile, America has started sending emergency help to Venezuela. Under Secretary of State for Foreign Assistance Jeremy Levin said a disaster assistance team and task force have already been activated for relief efforts.
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America will send Samana to Venezuela
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Venezuela shaken by double earthquake
- According to CNN, emergency response teams have been deployed to search for people trapped under collapsed buildings and damaged structures after the earthquake.
- According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), two powerful earthquakes struck near the capital Caracas on Wednesday evening, causing several buildings to collapse.
- The first quake, measuring 7.2, struck at 10:04 p.m. GMT near San Felipe, about 284 kilometers (176 miles) west of Caracas, according to the USGS.
- Almost immediately afterward, a second earthquake of magnitude 7.5 struck Yumare, about 293 kilometers (182 mi) west of the capital.
- “Large casualties and widespread damage are expected, and the disaster could spread across a large area,” the USGS said.
The earthquake was at a depth of 15 kilometers.
“Attention: Shortly I will address the Venezuelan people to update them on the situation following the powerful earthquake that hit the country,” Delsy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s acting president, said in a post on Instagram.
According to India’s National Center for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 15 kilometers.
NCS said in a post on